Recent Water Damage Posts

Sump Pump Knowledge

If you have a sump pump, most the time you don't realize how important it is until it stops working. Power outages, failure and a sump pump that cannot handle the capacity are common problems. Another is knowing how old is your sump pump?? Avoid potential problems by doing routine inspections or replacing your old sump pump. Usually sump pumps should be replaced every 5 years or according to manufacturers guidelines and each year the sump, switch and float should be inspected as well. Pay attention to how often the sump pump is running and if it runs regularly or there is a higher water table, consider a sump pump with higher horsepower.

Another way to increase the pump's efficiency and prolong life is to clean your sump pit, remove any dirt, sand, gravel and other debris routinely. Ensure that the discharge line opening is free of obstructions so that water can be pumped through the line and out of your basement or crawlspace and also be aware in the winter the discharge line may freeze bringing the water back into your house. Regular checks can make sure you don't ever get surprised by your sump pump!

Home Maintenance Helps Prevent Water Loss

Ah the joys of homeownership, it is never-ending! Here are a few things you can do in your home to lower your chances of getting water damage.

- Do ceiling, attic and shingle checks routinely so you can catch a small problem before it becomes a BIG problem.- Check your downspouts. They should point away from your house so water flows away and not toward your foundation.- Check your sump pump yearly and know when it needs to be replaced whether you think it needs to or not.- Plants are nice but some have very evasive root systems that can wreak havoc.- If your water bill is unusual, there might be a leak that needs to be addressed.- Clean your gutters. This is very important to prevent overflow onto your roof and ice dams in the winter.- Grease goes in the garbage NOT down your drain!- Do regular inspects of hoses or water lines on wash machines, dish washers and refrigerators and corrosion on hot water heaters.

Water Leaks & Detection

Small, big leaks, the are all big! A leak from a hole that is 1/16" in diameter can pour 822 gallons of water a day into your home!

With any leak or spill, it’s the water you don't see that can cause the most damage. In order to find that materials that are wet we mainly rely on a Moisture Meter. There are two types, pin-type and pinless. Pin-type Moisture Meters measure the resistance between test pins inserted into a piece of wood/building material and use that reading as a proxy for the object’s absolute moisture level. Pinless Moisture Meters rely on the ability of moisture to inductively distort an electric field created by turning on the meter. This sounds like a bunch of scientific talk, and it is! But mainly the moisture meters will tell you when something is wet and how wet, so you can find any hidden wet spots in your home. While the surface may seem dry, the water you don’t see can contain bacteria, cause mold or rot, and cause other unseen damage that must be mitigated immediately.

SERVPRO of East Central Waukesha County has the tools to find where any water is lurking and can come out and give a free inspection to see how best to tackle any water damage.